Grace Lee Boggs Criticizes Screening of Film About Her Life at Israeli Film Festival

Long-time activist, author and visionary organizer Grace Lee Boggs has delivered a strong rebuke to the inclusion of a documentary film on her life in a government-sponsored Israeli film festival, the Electronic Intifadareported Tuesday.

The film, American Revolutionary: The Evolution of Grace Lee Boggs, is scheduled to be screened Thursday at the Docaviv International Documentary Film Festival, which is an affront to the boycott movement supported by Boggs, who "believes this screening is in direct contradiction to her legacy and ongoing work as a revolutionary," according to a statement sent to the Electronic Intifada.

Joining the 98-year-old in denouncing the film's inclusion in the festival is noted actor and activist Danny Glover, as well as others featured in the film.

"We stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine," their statement reads.

The statement adds that they tried to have the film removed from the festival, but that "festival organizers and film producers informed us that this was not possible and they would move forward with the screening, over our objections."

The producers of the Boggs film on Monday posted a statement on the documentary's website, reading: "We made American Revolutionary to explore the life and work of a philosopher and activist whose story we want to share with audiences everywhere. Until about three days ago, we were unaware that playing in the festival would be an issue for the participants of the film. We respect their position and regret the discomfort this has caused them. We are sharing their statement here."

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